An experiment is set up to determine the focal length f f\,f of a converging lens using an illuminated object, a lens, and a screen.
Describe a technique for obtaining an image on the screen that is as sharp as possible.
The height of the illuminated object is hO=3.0 cmh_O = 3.0\text{ cm}hO=3.0 cm. When the object distance u u\,u is set to a certain value, the height of the sharp image on the screen is measured to be hI=4.8 cmh_I = 4.8\text{ cm}hI=4.8 cm. Calculate the value of W W\,W using the formula:
W=hOhI W = \frac{h_O}{h_I} W=hIhOGive your answer to 2 decimal places.
The experiment is repeated for several different object distances uuu. A graph of u / cmu\text{ / cm}u / cm (y-axis) against WWW (x-axis) is plotted. The student identifies two points on the resulting line of best fit: (0.60,24.0 cm)(0.60, 24.0\text{ cm})(0.60,24.0 cm) and (3.00,60.0 cm)(3.00, 60.0\text{ cm})(3.00,60.0 cm). Determine the gradient G G\,G of this line. Show your working.
The focal length f f\,f of the lens is numerically equal to the gradient GGG. State the value of f f\,f in cm\text{cm}cm.
The student decides to continue the experiment using much larger values of uuu. Explain why this produces less accurate values for WWW.
56 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 3.2.3a Converging and diverging lenses. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.